Masud Kamal, Senior News Editor of Banglavision
The words of Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury have been whirling round in my head for the past few days. He (Dr Zafrullah, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra) uttered the words during a recent meeting between Prof AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Dr Kamal Hossain.
Responding to a query of the reporters, Dr Zafrullah said, “Massive fascism is sure to rise if the incumbent government retains its hold on power for another term. It is an obstacle to good governance.” (Amader Notun Shomoy, August 30, 2018)
I do welcome his fear over fascism. Fascism is certainly dreadful. There is no argument about it; it is indeed an obstacle to good governance. However, the question is, how he became so sure that the country would witness a massive round of fascism if the incumbent government retains its power for another term.
I would have no objection if he had said ‘there would be a chance of creating fascism’. Instead of raising a possibility, he was sure of ‘massive fascism’. I do not believe in astrology. I think, there are many people like me who do not believe so. Even if I were a believer in astrology, there would be no ground to take note of his words. Because, he is a physician by profession, not an astrologer. Although he is a known figure in the political arena, he claims that he does not owe allegiance to any political party.
That day he emphatically said that he did not belong to any political party. However, he sometimes speaks in a way that bears resemblance to the leaders of BNP. There is no harm in the resemblance. There may be a resemblance in case of any honest and good words.
But it causes problems when the prophetic words are uttered to bring any political party to power. For the sake of argument, we suppose that the third time of the incumbent government will give rise to fascism. Then when there will be no fascism? Is it BNP-Jamaat alliance? We have seen many things when the alliance was in power during 2001.
I know Dr Zafrullah for a long time. I would bow my head in deep respect remembering his contribution to the War of Liberation. When I was a reporter, his patriotism and his dedication to the health sector overwhelmed me. The blend of great virtues and the narrow politics fact in him has frustrated me.
Translated by Hossen Sohel